Game terminal, game system therefor, computer program therefor, and computer readable recording medium therewith

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a game terminal ( 10 ). In a quiz, processor ( 150 ) of game terminal ( 10 ) performs a process of asking a quiz question, receiving an answer to the quiz question, and notifying a result of the quiz after the quiz is completed (SD 6,  SD 10,  SD 12,  SD 14,  SF 3,  SF 9,  SF 10,  SF 11 ), a process of converting answer data representing a received answer in such a manner that, when the answer is correct, the encoded bit string is the shortest (SD 7,  Sf 4 ), a process of transmitting the converted answer data to another game terminal ( 10 ) (SD 9,  SF 5 ), and a process of reverse-converting the answer data after receiving the answer data from another game terminal ( 10 ) SD 11,  SD 13,  SF 8,  SF 14 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game terminal that enables a playerto play a quiz game including a quiz, a game system therefor, a computerprogram therefor, and also relates to a computer-readable recordingmedium therewith.

BACKGROUND ART

There is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open PublicationNo. 2006-055294 a game system in which a quiz game is advanced byrepeatedly executing a series of processes for asking quiz questions toa player and receiving an answer for a quiz question from the player. Inthis game system, plural quiz questions are selected from a genreselected by a player, and the selected quiz questions are asked in aquiz game.

One type of quiz game is a multiple-player participation type onlinegame in which plural players participate in a game simultaneously forplaying the game. Because the same quiz question will be asked to theplural players in this type of quiz game, the quiz game will be moreenjoyable, i.e., a player can enjoy a quiz game more, if each player isable to know not only the player's own answer, but also the answer ofanother player. In order to realize this, answers of each player for thesame quiz question need to be shared among the plural game terminals.That is, data indicating an answer must be transmitted and receivedamong game terminals.

Because there is a little flexibility in answers in a case in which theasked quiz question is of the multiple-choice type, the size of the datatransmitted and received among game terminals can be sufficientlyreduced so that the answers of each player can be shared. Therefore, insuch a case, the amount of data transmitted and received among gameterminals for sharing answers of each player can be minimized. Incontrast, because there is a lot of flexibility in answers in a case inwhich the asked quiz question is of a type that requires a player toinput a character string as an answer, it would be difficult tosufficiently reduce the data size of that transmitted and received amonggame terminals for sharing answers of each player. This means that inthe conventional technique, it was difficult to minimize the size of thedata, the data being transmitted and received among game terminals sothat answers of each player can be shared in a case in which the askedquiz question is of a type that requires a player to input a characterstring as an answer.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved in view of the above-describedcircumstances, and it has as an object to provide a game terminal thatcan minimize the amount of data transmitted and received among gameterminals while also enabling the sharing of answers of each player atplural game terminals in a multiple-player participation type onlinegame in which a quiz question is asked in a manner in which a player isrequested to input a character string as an answer, and to provide agame system therefor, a computer program therefor, and also to provide acomputer-readable recording medium therewith.

In the following, description will be given of the present invention. Itshould be noted that reference numerals in the attached drawings areshown in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the presentinvention; however, this is not intended to limit the present inventionto the embodiments as shown in the drawings.

The present invention provides a game terminal (10) for enabling aplayer to play a quiz game including a quiz, the game terminalcomprising: a quiz processor (150, SD6, SD10, SD12, SD14, SF3, SF9,SF10, SF11) that, in the quiz, asks the player a quiz question, thatreceives an answer for the quiz question, and that informs a result ofthe quiz after the quiz is completed; a converter (encoder) (150, SD7,SF4, SG2, SH2) that converts (encodes) answer data representing theanswer in such a manner that a bit string of the answer data will be theshortest after the conversion (encoding) when the answer is correct; atransmitter (150, SD9, SF5, SG2, SH2) that transmits to another gameterminal (10) the answer data converted by the converter (150, SD7, SF4,SG2, SH2); a receiver (150) that receives the answer data from anothergame terminal (10); and a reverse-converter (decoder) (150, SD11, SD13,SF8, SF14, SG3, SG4, SH3, SH4) that reverse-converts (decodes) theanswer data received by the receiver (150). The present inventionfurther provides a game system (1) that has a plurality of the abovegame terminals (10). The process of informing a result of a quizindicates a process of determining whether answer data is correct and acorrect answer process of notifying that the answer is correct by animage and by a sound or an incorrect answer process of notifying thatthe answer is incorrect by an image and by a sound.

In this game system (1), the size of transmitted and received data whena correct answer is received will be minimal (the shortest bit string),from among pieces of data transmitted and received among game terminals(10) so that answers of each player are shared among plural gameterminals (10). Because in a quiz game, each player answers a quizquestion, hoping to select the correct answer, it is possible accordingto the present invention to minimize the size of data transmitted andreceived among game terminals (10) while also enabling the sharing ofanswers of each player among game terminals (10) in a multiple-playerparticipation type online game in which a quiz question is asked in amanner in which a player is requested to input a character string as ananswer.

In the above game terminal (10), the converter (150, SD7, SF4, SG2, SH2)has an encoding-decoding dictionary storage device (160) that stores anencoding-decoding dictionary in which a to-be-encoded bit string and anencoded bit string are stored in a correlated manner for each of pluralpieces of data that are different from one another; and an encoder (150,SD7, SF4) that encodes the answer data by using the encoding-decodingdictionary stored in the encoding-decoding dictionary storage device(160), and the answer data encoded by the encoder (150, SD7, SF4) istreated as the answer data converted by the converter (150, SD7, SF4,SG2, SH2).

According to a game system (1) having plural game terminals (10) of thisembodiment, conversion and reverse conversion of answer data can beperformed by simple processes.

In the above game terminal (10), the converter (150, SD7, SF4, SG2, SH2)has an encoding-decoding dictionary storage device (160) that stores anencoding-decoding dictionary in which a to-be-encoded bit string and anencoded bit string are stored in a correlated manner for each of pluralpieces of data that are different from one another; an encoder (150,SD7, SF4) that encodes the answer data by using the encoding-decodingdictionary stored in the encoding-decoding dictionary storage device(160); and an extractor (150, SG2, SH2) that extracts a portion that isincluded in the bit string of the answer data encoded by the encoder(150, SD7, SF4) and that is not included in another encoded bit string,and the portion extracted by the extractor (150, SG2, SH2) may betreated as the answer data converted by the converter (150, SD7, SF4,SG2, SH2).

An example of the above portion is the head portion (for example, thefirst one bit) of an encoded bit string. In this embodiment, anencoding-decoding dictionary does not have to be dynamicallyreconfigured.

The above game system (1) has a server device (40) for communicatingwith each of the plural game terminals (10), and the server device (40)has a calculation mandatory data storage device (430) that stores, foreach quiz question, data of parameters mandatory for accuracy ratecalculation as calculation mandatory data; and a calculation mandatorydata updater (410, SA31) that updates, based on the result of the quiz,the calculation mandatory data stored in the calculation mandatory datastorage device (430), and the converter (150, SD7, SF4, SG2, SH2) mayconvert answer data showing the answer in such a manner that a bitstring of the answer data after the conversion will be the shortest whenthe answer is correct, the conversion being performed in a case in whichan accuracy rate of a quiz question calculated based on the calculationmandatory data stored in the calculation mandatory data storage device(430) is equal to or greater than a standard accuracy rate.

According to this embodiment, for a quiz question having an accuracyrate that is equal to or greater than the certain value, the size oftransmitted and received data when a correct answer is received will beminimal (the shortest bit string), from among pieces of data transmittedand received among game terminals (10) so that answers of each playerare shared among plural game terminals (10). Therefore, according to thepresent embodiment, the amount of data transmitted and received amonggame terminals (10) can be reliably reduced.

Furthermore, the present invention is a computer program (P1) or acomputer program product (P1) for running on a computer (10) thatenables a player to play a quiz game including a quiz, the computerprogram, when run on the computer (10) (or by a processor (150) of thecomputer), at least including computer-readable instructions forperforming the steps of: processing a game, the processing includingasking the player a quiz question, receiving an answer for the quizquestion, and informing a result of the quiz after the quiz is completed(SD6, SD10, SD12, SD14, SF3, SF9, SF10, SF11); converting answer datashowing the answer in such a manner that a bit string of the answer datawill be the shortest after the conversion when the answer is correct(SD7, SF4, SG2, SH2); transmitting to another game terminal the answerdata converted in the converting step (SD7, SF4, SG2, SH2) (150, SD9,SF5, SG2, SH2); receiving the answer data from another game terminal(150); and reverse-converting the answer data received in the receivingstep (SD11, SD13, SF8, SF14, SG3, SG4, SH3, SH4). Preferably, theprogram (P1) or the computer program product (P1) may be downloaded tothe computer (10) by a communication interface (180) by connecting to anetwork (2).

The present invention can be understood as a computer-readable recordingmedium that has recorded thereon the computer program (P1) or thecomputer program product (P1). Specifically, the present invention canbe understood as that which is recorded, as data loadable into a memoryof a computer, on a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM, orother types of computer-readable recording medium, for distribution.

The same effects as the game terminal (10) can be attained by a computer(10) that executes this computer program.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gameterminal which can curb the amount of data transmitted and receivedamong game terminals while enabling the sharing of answers of eachplayer at plural game terminals in a multiple-player participation typeonline game in which a quiz question is asked in a manner in which aplayer is requested to input a character string as an answer, a gamesystem, a computer program therefor, and to provide a computer-readablerecording medium therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game system 1according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external view of a game terminal 10included in game system 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of game terminal10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a quizdata set used at game terminal 10.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a serverdevice 40 included in game system 1.

FIG. 6A is a sequence chart illustrating an overview (the first half) ofan operation performed in game system 1.

FIG. 6B is a sequence chart illustrating the overview (the second half)of the operation performed in game system 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an update process performed at serverdevice 40.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a single game process performed atgame terminal 10.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an association-based selectionprocess included in the single game process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed at ascreen 121 of game terminal 10.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a part (the first half) of a parentonline game process performed at game terminal 10.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a part (the second half) of theparent online game process performed at game terminal 10.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed atscreen 121.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an answer collection processincluded in the parent online game process.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed atscreen 121.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a part (the first half) of a childonline game process performed at game terminal 10.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a part (the second half) of thechild online game process performed at game terminal 10.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for describing a modification 1 of thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram for describing the modification 1.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a partial flowchart of a parent onlinegame process performed at a parent terminal in the modification 1.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a partial flowchart of a child onlinegame process performed at a child terminal in the modification 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, description will be given of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention with reference to the drawings. The specificconfigurations described below are merely examples, and the presentinvention encompasses various embodiments obtained by modifying thespecific configurations within its scope.

1. Configuration 1-1. Game System

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a game system1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Game system 1 isa system in which a player can play a quiz game including plural quizquestions. A quiz is a series of actions of a question master (gamesystem 1 (specifically, a game terminal 10, described later)) giving outa quiz question and an answerer (player) answering the question. In aquiz game, plural quizzes advance sequentially one by one. However, theembodiment may be modified such that plural quizzes advance in parallelin a quiz game.

A player can play a desired one of two types of quiz games using gamesystem 1. One type of the quiz game is a stand-alone game in which thenumber of participants is one. The other type of the quiz game is amultiple-player participation type online game (multiple-player onlinegame) in which the number of participants is more than one(specifically, 12). The present embodiment may be modified such that thenumber of participants of the multiple player game is equal to orgreater than 13 or equal to or less than 11.

A part of game system 1 is provided at game facilities F (F1, F2, F3, .. . ) such as a venue at which a player who visits the venue can play agame. Specifically, there are provided at each game facility F, a LAN(Local Area Network) 25, one or plural game terminals (computer) 10connected to LAN 25, enabling a player to play a quiz game, and a router20 that connects LAN 25 with the Internet 2.

Game terminal 10 is used by a player and is a terminal device (arcadegame device) by use of which a player can play a quiz game. The gameterminal performs a game process including a quiz process of giving aplayer a quiz question and receiving an answer to the quiz question fromthe player. The game process is a process for causing a player to play aquiz game.

Router 20 has a function of building, on the Internet 2, a VPN (VirtualPrivate Network) which is a virtual dedicated network. Game terminal 10is capable of communicating, via LAN 25, with another game terminal 10in game facility F where this game terminal 10 is located, and is alsocapable of communicating, via LAN 25, router 20, and the Internet 2,with game terminal 10 at another game facility F.

Game system 1 has a server device (computer) 40 that provides variousservices (processes) (described below) to every game terminal 10 and arouter 30 that connects server device 40 to the Internet 2. Serverdevice 40 is capable of communicating with each game terminal 10 viarouter 30 and the Internet 2. In other words, server device 40 and allthe game terminals 10 can communicate with one another. Server device 40is a single unit, but the present embodiment may be modified such thatserver device 40 is formed of plural units.

1-2. Game Terminal

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external view of game terminal 10included in game system 1. A player of game terminal 10, in front of abody 110 of game terminal 10, can see an image displayed on a screen 121of a display unit (specifically, a monitor) 120 provided on body 110 andcan also hear sounds emitted from a speaker 131 provided on body 110,and can touch a transparent touch panel 141 provided on body 110 andcovering screen 121.

In a quiz, a player is expected to understand a quiz question given bygame terminal 10 based on an image displayed on screen 121 and on soundsemitted from speaker 131 and to answer the quiz question by touchingtouch panel 141.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of game terminal10. As shown in the figure, game terminal 10 has a processor 150 thatperforms various processes, described later, an operation unit 140 thatis operated by a player and that supplies processor 150 with operationdata corresponding to the operation of the player, a display unit 120that displays an image on screen 121 by using image data supplied fromprocessor 150, a sound emitter 130 that emits sounds from speaker 131 byusing sound data supplied from processor 150, a terminal storage device160 that stores various types of data, and a communication interface180.

Operation unit 140 is provided with touch panel 141. Touch panel 141supplies processor 150 with operation data corresponding to a positiontouched by a player. Processor 150 is, for example, one or plural CPUs(Central Processing Units) and performs a game process described below.Communication interface 180 is for transmitting a signal to, andreceiving a signal from, LAN 25, and relays data between processor 150and LAN 25. Processor 150 uses communication interface 180 to transmitdata to, and to receive data from, another device. The presentembodiment may be modified so as to use a video projector as displayunit 120. In this case, a screen on which an image is projected will bescreen 121, and operation unit 140 will be provided with a keyboard orbuttons, etc.

A memory area of terminal storage device 160 is divided into a volatilearea RT1 for which power is required for retaining the memory contentand a non-volatile area RT2 for which power is not required.Non-volatile area RT2 is further divided into a non-rewritable area RT21in which the memory content is non-rewritable, and a rewritable areaRT22 in which the memory content is rewritable. Volatile area RT1 can bemade, for example, by a RAM (Random Access Memory), non-rewritable areaRT21, for example, by a ROM (Read Only Memory), a rewritable area RT22,for example, by a hard disk.

Reserved in rewritable area RT22 is a terminal quiz table QT1. Interminal quiz table QT1, there are stored, for each quiz question, quizquestion ID data indicating a quiz question ID (identifier) for uniquelyidentifying a quiz question, a quiz data set for performing a quiz usinga quiz question, genre data representing a genre of the quiz question,question style data representing a question style of the quiz question.Quiz question IDs, genres and question styles are the same in gamesystem 1. That is, it is ensured that a quiz question having the samequiz question ID is the same quiz question, that the genre of the samequiz question is the same, and that the question style of the same quizquestion is the same, among devices in game system 1.

A genre (or a category) is a field of knowledge from which a question isgiven to a player and is, for example, a field of sports or a field oflearning, etc. A question style is, for example, a multiple choicequestion for answering a quiz question by selecting one of plural answeroptions, a type-in type of question for answering a quiz question byentering characters, etc. The genre and the question style of each quizquestion are fixed. The present embodiment may be modified such thatplural genres or plural question styles are associated with one quizquestion.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a quizdata set used in game terminal 10. The quiz data set includes quizquestion data representing a quiz question, correct answer datarepresenting a correct answer of the quiz question, and keyword groupdata representing a keyword group including plural keywords (characterstrings) that are related to a quiz element. In a case in which thequestion style is of the multiple-choice type, a quiz question includesplural answer options, and the quiz question data includes datarepresenting plural answer options. Only one of these plural answeroptions is the correct answer.

A quiz element is an element essential to a quiz question andspecifically is a quiz question or a correct answer. In a case in whichthe question style is a multiple-choice question, incorrect answers willalso be a quiz element. There are plural types of keyword groups:namely, a quiz-question related keyword group including keywords thatare related to a quiz question, a correct-answer related keyword groupincluding keywords that are related to a correct answer, and anincorrect-answer related keyword group including keywords that arerelated to incorrect answers. Thus, different types of keyword groupsinclude keywords related to quiz elements that differ from group togroup. The incorrect-answer related keyword group is provided only in acase in which the question style is of the multiple-choice type.

A quiz data set includes quiz-question related keyword group datarepresenting a quiz-question related keyword group and correct-answerrelated keyword group data representing a correct-answer related keywordgroup. A quiz data set of a quiz question for which the question styleis of the multiple choice type further includes incorrect-answer relatedkeyword group data representing an incorrect-answer related keywordgroup. Furthermore, each keyword group data includes data representingone common keyword. That is, each keyword group data includes at leastone keyword that is in common to all quiz data sets and also to allkeyword groups.

Stored in the volatile area RT1 are a terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1for prohibiting asking of inadequate questions to be asked andconsecutive correct answer count data C representing the number ofconsecutive correct answers. The inadequate questions to be askedinclude a quiz question that is inadequate for asking such as a quizquestion for which a correct answer cannot be given. Aterminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 is a list containing pieces of quizquestion ID data of inadequate questions to be asked and is deliveredfrom server device 40. As described below, plural quiz questions areasked sequentially one by one in a quiz game. The number of consecutivecorrect answers is initially set to 0, and it increments by one everytime a correct answer is given to a quiz question and is reset to 0 whenan incorrect answer is given. In volatile area RT1, a collection processcompletion flag FL (described below) and an encoding-decoding dictionarytable DT (described below) can be retained. There are stored inencoding-decoding dictionary table DT, for each quiz question, quizquestion ID data and encoding-decoding dictionary. The encoding-decodingdictionary is data for encoding and decoding answer data indicating ananswer of a player.

Stored in the non-rewritable area RT21 is a computer program P1.Computer program P1 includes computer-readable instructions, and whencomputer program P1 is run and executed by processor 150, computerprogram P1 causes game terminal 10 to perform a game process. The gameprocess includes a terminal-side grouping process for forming a groupwith another game terminal 10, a single game process for causing aplayer to play a stand-alone type game, and an online game process forcausing a player to play a multiple player online game.

A group is a collection of game terminals 10, and one multiple-playeronline game advances by the same game terminals 10 in the same groupcommunicating with one another. The number of groups to which one gameterminal 10 belongs is one. In each group, from among game terminals 10belonging to each group, one terminal is a parent (master) game terminal10 (parent terminal) capable of directly transmitting data to, andreceiving data from, every other game terminal 10, and each of the otherterminals is a child (client) game terminal 10 (child terminal) capableof directly transmitting data only to, and receiving data only from, theparent terminal (10). In the following description, in each group, eachgame terminal 10 that belongs to the group will be called a “member” ofthe group.

1-3. Server Device

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of server device40 included in game system 1. As shown in the figure, server device 40has a processor 410 that performs various processes, described later, acommunication interface 420 that relays data between processor 410 androuter 30, and a server storage device 430 that stores various data.Processor 410 is, for example, one or plural CPUs and uses communicationinterface 420 to transmit data to, and receive data from, each gameterminal 10.

The memory area of server storage device 430 is divided into a volatilearea RT3 for which power is required for retaining the memory contentand a non-volatile area RT4 for which power is not required. Volatilearea RT3 can be made, for example, by a RAM and stores aserver-side-do-not-ask list BL2. This server-side-do-not-ask list BL2 isread from volatile area RT3 and is transmitted asterminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 to each game terminal 10. It is to benoted that the present embodiment may be modified such thatserver-side-do-not-ask list BL2 is stored not in volatile area RT3 butin non-volatile area RT4. Except, the memory area forserver-side-do-not-ask list BL2 must be a rewritable area.

Non-volatile area RT4 is, for example, a ROM or a hard disk. Reserved innon-volatile area RT4 is a server-side quiz table QT2 and an adequacydetermination table JT. The server-side quiz table QT2 stores, for eachquiz question, a quiz question ID, difficulty level data representing adifficulty level (difficulty degree) of a quiz question, genre data,question style data, accuracy rate data representing an accuracy rate(percentage of correct answers) of a quiz question, quiz question asknumber data representing the number of times a quiz question is asked,correct answer number data representing the number of correct answers ofa quiz question, and encoding-decoding dictionary data representing anencoding-decoding dictionary.

The ask number of a quiz question is the number of times the quizquestion is asked in all the multiple-player online games played in gamesystem 1. The number of correct answers of a quiz question is the numberof times players gave a correct answer for the quiz question inmultiple-player online games in the entire game system 1. The accuracyrate of each quiz question is variable and is updated in accordance witha game result. The accuracy rate of each quiz question is calculated bydividing the number of correct answers of this quiz question by thenumber of times this quiz question is asked. The accuracy rate of a quizquestion for which the number of times the questions is asked is 0 isdetermined based on the difficulty level of the quiz question.

As is clear from the foregoing description, the quiz question ask numberdata and the correct answer number data are accuracy rate calculationmandatory data necessary for calculation of the accuracy rate(hereinafter, this will be referred to simply as “calculation mandatorydata”). The number of times a quiz question is asked and the number oftimes a correct answer is received for the quiz question are parametersmandatory for accuracy rate calculation.

The encoding-decoding dictionary is a dictionary for encoding anddecoding data in transmitting and receiving the data among members. Ineach encoding-decoding dictionary, for each of plural pieces of datathat are different from one another, a to-be-encoded bit string of eachpiece and an encoded bit string are associated with each other. In eachencoding-decoding dictionary, plural to-be-encoded bit strings aredifferent from one another, and plural encoded bit strings are differentfrom one another. Each encoding-decoding dictionary is initiallyconfigured in such a manner that, when the accuracy rate of acorresponding quiz question is equal to or greater than a predeterminedstandard accuracy rate, the encoded bit string for correct answer dataindicating a correct answer for the quiz question is the shortest amongall encoded bit strings in the encoding-decoding dictionary, andotherwise configured in a random manner. It is to be noted that thepresent embodiment can be modified in such a way that quiz data sets arestored in server-side quiz table QT2 so that the server-side quiz tableserves as a superset of terminal-side quiz table QT1.

When a quiz data set in server-side quiz table QT2 is manually updated,the quiz data set in terminal-side quiz table QT1 is also updated inconjunction. This data synchronization is carried out by transmittingthe quiz data set from server device 10 to each game terminal 10. In acase in which there are numerous game terminals 10, it would take aconsiderable amount of time for the updating. Therefore, the updatingshould be completed during hours when game facility F is closed.

The adequacy determination table JT has stored therein, for eachdifficulty level (difficulty degree) of a quiz question, adequate rangedata representing a range (adequate range) of the accuracy rate that isadequate as the accuracy rate of a quiz question of a certain difficultylevel. The adequate range of the accuracy rate is a range within whichan adequate accuracy rate falls and an inadequate accuracy rate does notfall, and is predetermined. The adequate range data is for identifying aquiz question that has an accuracy rate that does not fall within theadequate range of the accuracy rate, and it can be data indicating theupper limit and the lower limit of the adequate range or can be dataindicating only the lower limit of the adequate range. Because 100% isthe upper limit of the accuracy rate, the data indicating only the lowerlimit of the adequate range is also data indicating an adequate range.It is to be noted that, because the adequate range data also shows aninadequate range of accuracy rate as the accuracy rate of a quizquestion of a corresponding difficulty level, the adequate range datacan also be regarded as data for identifying a quiz question that has anaccuracy rate that falls within the inadequate range of the accuracyrate.

Non-volatile area RT4 stores a computer program P2. Computer program P2includes computer-readable instructions, and when the computer programP2 is executed by processor 410, causes server device 40 to perform aserver process. The server process includes a server-side groupingprocess for grouping plural game terminals 10, an update process forupdating data stored in server storage device 430, a list deliveryprocess for delivering terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 to gameterminal 10, and a dictionary delivery process for deliveringencoding-decoding dictionary data to game terminal 10. These processescan be executed in parallel.

2. Operation 2-1. Overview

FIGS. 6A and 6B are sequence charts illustrating an operation of gamesystem 1. FIG. 6B shows an operation that is continued from eachoperation of each game terminal 10 and server device 40 shown in FIG.6A. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, while game system 1 is operating, theserver-side grouping process is continued at server device 40. On theother hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, at game terminal 10, a processcorresponding to a type of quiz game which a player will be playing(hereinafter, this will be referred to as a “play object”). In a case inwhich a play object is a multiple-player online game, processor 150 ofgame terminal 10 first performs a terminal-side grouping process.

In the terminal-side grouping process, processor 150 first uses displayunit 120 and operation unit 140, thereby to provide a UI (UserInterface) for causing a player to input a play name as a name of aplayer for use in the multiple-player online game. The UI can be freelyselected and may be, for example, a virtual keyboard. It is to be notedthat the present embodiment can be modified such that a player selectsone of many play names prepared in advance. Furthermore, a player may beable to use a player name that was input or selected in the past byusing game terminal 10 or another device.

In the terminal-side grouping process, processor 150 first transmits, toserver device 40, a grouping request for requesting grouping. On theother hand, processor 410 of server device 40 is continuously executinga server-side grouping process, and in a case in which a groupingrequest is received from game terminal 10, a grouping is performed fordeciding game terminal 10 as the parent population. Specifically,processor 410 transmits an empty grouping response to game terminal 10which will be a parent terminal of each group and transmits a groupingresponse to game terminal 10 which will be a child terminal of eachgroup, with the grouping response including data of a communicationaddress of game terminal 10 which will be a parent terminal of the samegroup. In an example shown in FIG. 6A, after a grouping request istransmitted to server device 40 from plural game terminals 10 which willbelong to the same group, a grouping response is transmitted from serverdevice 40 to these plural game terminals 10, but it is to be noted thatthis is merely an example.

In the terminal-side grouping process, processor 150, having received agrouping response including data representing a communication address,transmits, to game terminal 10 (parent terminal) of this communicationaddress, play name data representing a play name input to game terminalitself (child terminal). By this process, game terminal 10, to which theplay name data is transmitted, can obtain a communication address of thetransmitter of the play name data. As a result, data can be transmittedand received among freely selected game terminals 10 that will belong toeach group directly or indirectly via game terminal 10 that will be aparent terminal of the same group.

In the terminal-side grouping process, processor 150 of game terminal 10that has received the play name data writes a set of the play name dataand data representing the communication address of the transmitter intovolatile area RT1, to transmit this set to every game terminal 10 exceptfor game terminal 10 that has transmitted data of the same play name,from among game terminals 10 of which a communication address processor150 has obtained. Game terminal 10 having received the set writes thisdata into volatile area RT1. A group is thus formed. From among datacontained in the transmitted set, data representing a communicationaddress of the transmitter of play name data is used at the receiver ofthis data only for identifying the play name data. That is, the datarepresenting the communication address is only necessary to be able toidentify the play name data at the receiver side of the set. However, ina case in which data other than the data representing the communicationaddress of a transmitter of the play name data is used, game terminal 10that will be a parent terminal needs to know the correspondence betweenthis other data and the data representing the communication address.

When a group is formed, a terminal-side group process is completed ateach member of the group. The process relating to a play name isnecessary because the play names of all the members are displayed onevery screen 121 of each member of the same group. Therefore, if thepresent embodiment is modified so that such a display is not performed,the process associated with a play name is no longer necessary. In thiscase, freely selected data, instead of data representing a play name,will be transmitted from game terminal 10, which will be a childterminal to game terminal 10 that will be a parent terminal.

In a case in which the play object is a multiple-player online game, asshown in FIG. 6B, processor 150 of game terminal 10 that has finishedthe terminal-side grouping process performs an online game process (aparent online game process or a child online game process) correspondingto the attribute (parent or child) of its own. The details of eachonline game process will be described later, but just an overview isgiven now.

In the parent online game process, processor 150 of a parent terminalfirst transmits, to server device 40, a list delivery request forrequesting delivery of terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1. Processor 410of server device 40, every time it receives the list delivery request,performs a list delivery process. That is, processor 410 readsserver-side-do-not-ask list BL2 from volatile area RT3, for transmissionas return as terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 to the transmitter of thelist delivery request. Processor 150 of a parent terminal receives thetransmitted terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 to overwrite data involatile area RT1 with the received list and determines the details of aquiz game (a multiple-player online game in this case) based on theterminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1. Specifically, processor 150 selectsthe regulated number of the candidates of quiz questions to be given ina quiz game (hereinafter referred to as “candidate questions”) anddetermines the order of asking these candidate questions. The regulatednumber is a plural number equal to or greater than the maximum number ofquiz questions asked in a quiz game and is predetermined.

In the parent online game process, processor 150 of the parent terminalfirst transmits to server device 40 a dictionary delivery request forrequesting delivery of encoding-decoding dictionary data representing anencoding-decoding dictionary of the selected, prescribed candidatequestions. The dictionary delivery request contains pieces of quizquestion ID data of the selected, prescribed candidate questions, withthese pieces of quiz question ID data being listed in the decided orderof asking. Processor 410 of server device 40, every time it receives adictionary delivery request, performs a dictionary delivery process.Specifically, processor 410 reads from server-side quiz table QT2 piecesof encoding-decoding dictionary data corresponding to the regulatednumber of pieces of quiz question ID data contained in the dictionarydelivery request, generates a dictionary delivery response in which thepieces of encoding-decoding dictionary data are listed in the order ofasking, and transmits the response to the transmitter of the dictionarydelivery request. Processor 150 of a parent terminal receives thetransmitted dictionary delivery response and stores, inencoding-decoding dictionary table DT, the pieces of encoding-decodingdictionary data in the dictionary delivery response in association withcorresponding quiz question ID data.

On the other hand, in the child online game process, processor 150 of achild terminal first shares, with the parent terminal, the selection ofplural quiz questions, the order of asking the plural quiz questions,and the encoding-decoding dictionary in a parent terminal belonging tothe same group. When this sharing is completed at every child terminalof the same group, a multiple-player online game of the determinedcontent is performed in this group.

When the multiple-player online game is finished, processors 150 of allthe member game terminals 10 of the group in which the game was playedeach transmits to server device 40 play result data representing aresult of the play of the game, to terminate the online game process.The play result data is data for each player. The play result dataincludes, for each and every quiz question included in a multiple-playeronline game that has ended, quiz result data indicating a result of aquiz (hereinafter, this will be referred to as a “quiz result”).

Processor 410 of server device 40, every time play result data isreceived, performs an update process. Specifically, processor 410updates data stored in server storage device 430 in accordance with thereceived play result data. As a result, data such as server-side quiztable QT2 and server-side-do-not-ask list BL2 is updated. It is to benoted that the present embodiment can be modified so that a parentterminal of a group collects pieces of play result data of all the gameterminals 10, for transmission to server device 40.

On the other hand, in a case in which the play object is a stand-alonetype game, processor 150 of game terminal 10 performs a single gameprocess. The details of the single game process will be described below,and just an overview is given here. In the single game process,processor 150 of game terminal 10 transmits the above-described listdelivery request to server device 40. As a result,terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 will be transmitted from server device40 to this game terminal 10 as a reply. Processor 150 of this gameterminal 10 receives terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 and overwritesdata in volatile area RT1 with the received list, to determine thecontent of a quiz game (a stand-alone type game in this case) based onterminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1. The stand-alone type game isperformed at game terminal 10 under the determined content. When thestand-alone type game is completed, processor 150 of game terminal 10ends a single game process.

2-2. Update Process

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an update process performed at serverdevice 40. In the update process, quiz result data included in playresult data received from game terminal 10 is selected sequentially oneby one, and server-side quiz table QT2 is, or server-side quiz table QT2and server-side-do-not-ask list BL2 are, updated based on theinformation of the selected quiz result data. Processor 410 of serverdevice 40 first determines whether there is any quiz result data that isnot yet selected for which an update process is not yet performed, fromamong plural pieces of quiz result data contained in the result datareceived from game terminal 10 (SA1). In a case in which a result of thedetermination is negative, processor 410 ends the update process.

In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SA1 isaffirmative, processor 410 first selects, from among the plural piecesof quiz result data, a piece of quiz result data that has not yet beenselected (SA2). Subsequently, processor 410 performs, based on theselected piece of quiz result data, an update process of server-sidequiz table QT2 (SA3). The details of this update process depend on anaccuracy rate, as will be described below.

In the update process of server-side quiz table QT2, processor 410 firstupdates calculation mandatory data based on the selected piece of quizresult data (SA31). The quiz result data is data indicating a result ofa quiz question, and specifically indicates a quiz question ID of theasked quiz question and whether an answer to the question was correct.

In Step SA31, processor 410 updates quiz question ask number data andcorrect answer number data corresponding to a quiz question ID in theselected piece of quiz result data (hereinafter referred to as “selectedquiz ID”) or quiz question ask number data corresponding to the selectedquiz ID so that the number of correct answers for a quiz question havingthe selected quiz ID increases by 1 only when the number of times ofasking the quiz question having the selected quiz ID increases by 1 andwhen the correct or incorrect data in the selected piece indicates thata correct answer was given, i.e., when the quiz result data indicatesthat an answer to the quiz question was correct.

Subsequently, processor 410 refers to server-side quiz table QT2 tocalculate an accuracy rate of a quiz question having the selected quizID and updates accuracy rate data so that accuracy rate data indicatingthe accuracy rate of a quiz question of the selected quiz ID representsthe calculated accuracy rate (SA32). Subsequently, processor 410determines whether the accuracy rate of a quiz question having theselected quiz ID changes to a value equal to or greater than thepredetermined standard accuracy rate as a result of the update performedin Step SA32 (SA33). This result of the determination becomes positiveonly when the accuracy rate of a quiz question having the selected quizID is equal to or greater than the standard accuracy rate and when thepast accuracy rate of the quiz question having the selected quiz ID (anaccuracy rate represented by accuracy rate data immediately before theupdate of this time) is less than the standard accuracy rate.

In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SA33 isaffirmative, processor 410 performs a configuration process in whichcorrect answer data is prioritized as a process of reconfiguring theencoding-decoding dictionary (SA34). Specifically, processor 410 updatesthe encoding-decoding dictionary of a quiz question of the selected quizID in such a manner that a bit string of encoding correct dataindicating a correct answer of a quiz question having the selected quizID will be the shortest among all encoded bit strings in theencoding-decoding dictionary. The update process of server-side quiztable QT2 is thus completed. It is to be noted that the presentinvention may be modified so that the configuration process of Step SA34is always performed if the accuracy rate of a quiz question having theselected quiz ID is equal to or exceeds the standard accuracy rate.

In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SA33 isnegative, processor 410 determines whether the accuracy rate of a quizquestion having the selected quiz ID has changed to below thepredetermined standard accuracy rate as a result of the update in StepSA32 (SA35). This result of determination will be affirmative only whenthe accuracy rate of a quiz question having the selected quiz ID is lessthan the standard accuracy rate and when the past accuracy rate of thequiz question having the selected quiz ID (an accuracy rate representedby accuracy rate data immediately before the update of this time) isequal to or greater than the standard accuracy rate. In a case in whicha result of the determination is affirmative, processor 410 performs, asa process of reconfiguring the encoding-decoding dictionary, aconfiguration process in which correct answer data is not prioritized(SA36). The content of the reconfiguration process may be freelydetermined. For example, the correspondence between a to-be-encoded bitstring and an encoded bit string may be determined at random.Specifically, processor 410 reconfigures the encoding-decodingdictionary of the quiz question having the selected quiz ID so that thefreely determined length of encoded data corresponds to to-be-encodeddata of correct answer data corresponding to the selected quiz ID. Theupdate process of this server-side quiz table QT2 is thus completed. Onthe other hand, a result of the determination in Step SA35 is negative,i.e., in a case in which there is no change between the accuracy ratebefore update and after update, relative to the standard accuracy rate,processor 410 ends the update process of server-side quiz table QT2.

When the update process of server-side quiz table QT2 is completed,processor 410 determines, based on the adequacy determination table JT,whether the accuracy rate of a quiz question having the selected quiz IDis not within the adequate range corresponding to the difficulty levelof this quiz question (SA4). In a case in which a result of thedetermination is affirmative, processor 410 updatesserver-side-do-not-ask list BL2 (SA5). Specifically, processor 410updates server-side-do-not-ask list BL2 so as to include quiz questionID data indicating the selected quiz ID. The process then returns toStep SA1. In a case in which a result of the determination Step in SA4is negative, the process returns to Step SA1.

Thus, in the update process, server-side quiz table QT2 is updated basedon play result data received from game terminal 10, andserver-side-do-not-ask list BL2 is updated so as to include quizquestion ID data indicating a quiz question ID of a quiz question forwhich the accuracy rate is not within the adequate range. It is to benoted that the present embodiment can be modified so that quiz questionID data indicating a quiz question ID of a quiz question for which theaccuracy rate is within the adequate range is deleted fromserver-side-do-not-ask list BL2.

2-3. Single Game Process

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a single game process performed atgame terminal 10. In the single game process, processor 150 of gameterminal 10 updates terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 (SB1).Specifically, processor 150 transmits a list delivery request to serverdevice 40, receives, from server device 40, terminal-side-do-not-asklist BL1, and overwrites data in volatile area RT1 with the receivedterminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1.

Processor 150 then, based on terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1,determines the content of a stand-alone type game (SB2). Specifically,processor 150 provides a UI for causing a player to specify a genre anda question style, and in a case in which the genre and the questionstyle are specified, processor 150 defines all the questions of thespecified genre and question style as a population for selectingcandidates (hereinafter referred to as the “population for candidateselection”), selects from this population for candidate selection theregulated number of quiz questions identified by quiz question IDs thatare not included in terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 as candidatequestions, and determines the order of asking the selected, regulatednumber of candidate questions. This selection and determination areperformed by using, for example, random numbers.

In a case in which the question style is not specified, the questionstyle is automatically determined, and the population for candidateselection is defined based on the determined question style. In thiscase, the question style is determined by using, for example, randomnumbers. In a case in which a genre is not specified, all the quizquestions in the specified or determined question style will be thepopulation for candidate selection in the above selection, and theselection of candidate questions from this population for candidateselection is performed by the association-based selection process forselecting the regulated number of candidate questions that have anassociation that is different from a genre.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an association-based selectionprocess included in the single game process. In the association-basedselection process, processor 150 of game terminal 10 first focuses onone quiz question that is not yet focused from the population forcandidate selection (SC1). Specifically, processor 150 focuses on onepiece of quiz question ID data that is not yet focused on from amongpieces of quiz question ID data of terminal-side quiz table QT1. Thisone piece of quiz question ID data is determined by using, for example,random numbers. Subsequently, processor 150 selects, based on thespecified or determined question style, a type of keyword group (SC2).For example, in a case in which the specified or determined questionstyle is multiple-choice, processor 150 selects one of a quiz-questionrelated keyword group, a correct-answer related keyword group, or anincorrect-answer related keyword group. The present embodiment may bemodified so that plural types are selected from these keyword groups.

Subsequently, processor 150 specifies a search keyword (SC3). Thisspecification is performed by defining, based on keyword group data interminal-side quiz table QT1, a keyword group that is the same as thetype of keyword group selected in Step SC2 as a population (hereinafterreferred to as the “population for keyword selection”) from amongkeyword groups of a quiz question that is being focused on and byselecting from this population one keyword that has not yet beenselected. This selection is performed by using, for example, randomnumbers. It is to be noted that the present embodiment may be modifiedsuch that plural search keywords are identified.

Subsequently, processor 150 determines whether the regulated number ofquiz questions can be selected as candidate questions based onterminal-side quiz table QT1, terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1, thesearch keyword, and the selected type of keyword group (SC4).Specifically, it is determined whether the population for candidateselection includes quiz questions equal to or greater than the regulatednumber, with the quiz question being a quiz question of the specified ordetermined question style, with the selected type of keyword group ofthe quiz question including the search keyword, and with the quizquestion ID of the quiz question not being included interminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 (hereinafter referred to as “quizquestions that can become candidate”).

In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SC4 isnegative, the process returns to Step SC3. That is, the process of StepsSC3 to SC4 is repeated until a result of the determination in Step SC4is positive. Since each of all the keyword groups of all quiz data setsincludes at least one keyword that is common to all the keyword groups,a result of the determination in Step SC4 will eventually change to bepositive. In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SC4is positive, processor 150 selects, as candidate questions, each of theregulated number of quiz questions that can become candidate (SC5), toend the association-based selection process.

The present embodiment may be modified so that, in a case in which thespecified or the determined question style is multiple-choice, the sumof correct-answer related keyword group and incorrect-answer relatedkeyword group is defined as a population for keyword selection. That is,the sum of plural types of keyword groups can be defined as thepopulation for keyword selection. The present embodiment may be modifiedso that the keyword group data is prepared for each of the answeroptions.

As shown in FIG. 8, once the content of the stand-alone type game isdetermined, processor 150 then identifies a target quiz question as aquiz question to be asked in the next quiz process (SB3). Specifically,from among candidate questions that have not yet been asked, a candidatequestion that is first in the order of asking is regarded as a targetquiz question. Processor 150 then executes a quiz process (SB4). Thequiz process is a process of performing a quiz. In the quiz process,processor 150 performs a question process for asking a target quizquestion by using display unit 120 (SB4A) and performs a receivingprocess of receiving answers from a player by using display unit 120 andoperation unit 140 (SB4B). The question process and the receivingprocess are performed by using a quiz data set (quiz question data) forperforming a quiz using quiz questions to be asked. An example of animage displayed on screen 121 is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed onscreen 121 of game terminal 10. This example illustrates a case in whichthe specified or determined quiz question is of the multiple-choicetype. Displayed in the upper display area of screen 121 in the diagramis a character string of the target quiz question, “Which is the imageof Tokyo Station?”, and displayed in the lower display area of screen121 in the diagram are images of plural answer options AS1 to AS4. Aplayer touches an area on screen 121 that is occupied by the image of adesired answer option, thereby selecting the answer option, i.e., toanswer the quiz question to be asked.

In the receiving process, processor 150 determines whether an answerfrom a player is received (SB4B1), and in a case in which a result ofthe determination is negative, processor 150 determines whether thelength of time that has elapsed from the start of the receiving processhas exceeded the time limit (SB4B2). In a case in which a result of thedetermination is negative, processor 150 returns the process to StepS4B1. In short, until an answer of a player is received (until a playergives an answer), or until the elapsed time exceeds the time limit,processor 150 waits for an answer from the player.

The time limit is a predetermined certain length of time for limiting aperiod for receiving an answer (selectable period) and is, for example,60 seconds. An image displayed on screen 121 includes an imagerepresenting the remaining period until the elapsed time exceeds thetime limit (“09 seconds” in FIG. 10). It is to be noted that in thepresent embodiment, the start of the receiving process is the same asthe start of the quiz process, but the receiving process may be startedafter the quiz process is started.

Processor 150, in a case in which a result of the determination in StepSB4B1 or Step SB4B2 of the receiving process is affirmative, terminatesthe quiz process to perform the next process. Specifically, in the caseof terminating the quiz process after a result of the determination inStep SB4B2 is positive, i.e., in the case of terminating the quizprocess by the elapsed time exceeding the time limit, processor 150performs an incorrect answer process (SB5). Specifically, processor 150performs a process of displaying on screen 121 an image for informing aplayer that the answer is incorrect, a process for emitting from speaker131 of sound emitter 130 a sound for informing the player that theanswer is incorrect, and a process of initializing the number ofconsecutive correct answers.

On the other hand, in a case in which the quiz process is terminated bya result of the determination in Step SB4B1 becoming affirmative, i.e.,in case in which the quiz process is terminated by an answer beingreceived, processor 150 determines whether the received answer iscorrect based on the received answer and correct answer data containedin a quiz data set for performing a quiz in which a target quiz questionis used (SB6). In a case in which a result of the determination isnegative, the process proceeds to Step SB5. In a case in which a resultof the determination is affirmative, processor 150 performs a correctanswer process (SB7). Specifically, processor 150 performs a process fordisplaying on screen 121 an image informing a player that the answer iscorrect, a process for emitting from speaker 131 of sound emitter 130 asound for informing that the answer is correct and a process of updatingconsecutive correct answer count data C so that the number ofconsecutive correct answers increases by 1.

Processor 150, having completed the correct answer process or theincorrect answer process, determines whether the next quiz question canbe given (SB8). The content of this determination should be determinedas appropriate in accordance with the specifications of a quiz game. Forexample, in a case in which a quiz game is a game terminated after thequiz process is performed for a certain number of times, processor 150can determine whether the number of completed quiz processes reaches acertain number of times. As another example, in a case in which a quizgame is a game that is terminated within a certain length of time,processor 150 can determine whether the length of time that has elapsedfrom the start of a quiz game is equal to or exceeds the time limit.

In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SB8 ispositive, the process returns to Step SB3. In other words, the processof Steps SB3 to SB8 is repeated until a result of the determination inStep SB8 turns negative. It is to be noted that, since the regulatednumber is a number that is equal to or greater than the maximum numberof quiz questions given in a quiz game, quiz questions to be asked willnot be in short supply. On the other hand, in a case in which a resultof the determination in Step SB8 is negative, processor 150 uses displayunit 120 to cause a result of the play to be displayed on screen 121(SB9), to terminate the single game process.

2-4. Parent Online Game Process

FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams each illustrating a part of a flowchart ofa parent online game process performed at game terminal 10. In theparent online game process, processor 150 of a parent terminal updatesterminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1 (SD1). This process is the same asStep SB1 in FIG. 8.

Subsequently, processor 150, based on terminal-side-do-not-ask list BL1,determines the content of a multiple-player online game (SD2). Thisprocess is the same as Step SB2, except that in Step SD2 processor 150does not provide a UI for causing a player to specify a genre or aquestion style. Instead, processor 150 automatically determines thegenre and the question style, or only the question style.

Subsequently, processor 150 obtains the encoding-decoding dictionary(SD3). Specifically, processor 150 first initializes theencoding-decoding dictionary table DT and then transmits, to serverdevice 40, a dictionary delivery request for requesting a dictionarywhich has the content in accordance with the regulated number ofcandidate questions selected in Step SD2. Subsequently, processor 150receives a dictionary delivery response which is transmitted from serverdevice 40 as a reply, to store, in the encoding-decoding dictionarytable DT, the regulated number of pieces of encoding-decoding dictionarydata in the received dictionary delivery response and the regulatednumber of pieces of quiz question ID data in the transmitted dictionarydelivery request in a correlated manner, one to one, based on the listedposition of the questions IDs. It is to be noted that initializing theencoding-decoding dictionary table DT means deleting all pieces of datafrom encoding-decoding dictionary table DT.

Subsequently, processor 150 notifies, to every other member, the detailsof the determination in Step SD2 and the encoding-decoding dictionaryobtained in Step SD3 (SD4). Specifically, processor 150 transmits, toevery other member, the pieces of quiz question ID data of the selected,regulated number of candidate questions, data indicating the order ofasking these candidate questions, and pieces of encoding-decodingdictionary data representing encoding-decoding dictionaries of thesecandidate questions. Processor 150 then identifies a target quizquestion as a quiz question to be asked in the subsequent quiz process(SD5). The multiple-player online game is started before Step SD5 at theparent terminal.

Processor 150 then performs the quiz process (SD6) and an answercollection process of collecting answers received by other members (SE).These processes are performed in parallel with each other. The quizprocess in Step SD6 is the same as the quiz process in Step SB4. Anexample of an image displayed on screen 121 in this quiz process isillustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed onscreen 121 of game terminal 10. In this example, the determined questionstyle is of the type-in style, in which a target quiz question isdisplayed on a display area of the upper portion of the figure in screen121, and a virtual keyboard is displayed on a display area of the lowerportion of the figure in screen 121. The target quiz question includescharacter strings, “It is an abbreviation of ‘The United States ofAmerica’.” and an image of a rotating cube. Each surface of this cubehas a character-by-character depiction of every character contained in“USA”, which is the correct answer. A player looks at the characterstrings of the target quiz question and the image to think of thecharacter string of an answer, inputs the character string of the answerby inputting the characters one by one by touching an area occupied by adesired key of the virtual keyboard, and touches an area occupied by apredetermined key (“OK” key in the figure), thus answering the quizquestion to be asked. The character string of the input answer isdisplayed on a display area of a nearly central portion of the figure onscreen 121. Furthermore, the play names of players who are using themembers other than this game terminal are displayed in an area of theleft portion of the figure in screen 121. It is to be noted that theDelete key in the figure is a key for deleting one character input mostrecently from among the characters in the input character string.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an answer collection processincluded in the parent online game process. The answer collectionprocess commences simultaneously with a process corresponding to StepSB4B2 (SD6B2). In the answer collection process, processor 150 firstreserves, in volatile area RT1, a collection process completion flag FLindicating whether a process of collecting answers received at othermembers has been completed and sets the value as 0 (not yet completed)(SE1).

Subsequently, processor 150 determines whether it has received answerdata representing an answer from every other member (SE2), and in a casein which a result of the determination is negative, processor 150determines whether the length of time that has elapsed from the start ofthe receiving process has sufficiently exceeded the time limit (SE3). Ina case in which a result of the determination is negative, processor 150returns the process to Step SE2. That is, processor 150 waits for answerdata from other members until it receives answer data from every othermember or the elapsed time has sufficiently exceeded the time limit.

Once a result of the determination in Step SE2 or SE3 turns affirmative,processor 150 changes the value of collection process completion flag FLin volatile area RT1 to 1 (completed) (SE4), to end the answercollection process. In the present embodiment, the result of thedetermination in Step SE3 will not become affirmative only by theelapsed time exceeding the time limit, so as to prevent the failure tocollect answer data due to process delay and communication delay.

In the quiz process (SD6) in FIG. 12, processor 150, in a case in whicha result of the determination in a process (SD6B1) corresponding to StepSB4B1 turns positive, or a result of the determination in a process(SD6B2) corresponding to Step SB4B2 turns positive, terminates the quizprocess to perform the next process. Specifically, processor 150, in thecase of terminating the quiz process by receiving an answer (SD6B1;YES), refers to the encoding-decoding dictionary of the target quizquestion, to encode answer data representing this answer (SD7). Thelength of a bit string of the encoded answer data (to be more precise,the encoding-decoding dictionary of a quiz question to be asked) will bethe shortest when an accuracy rate of a quiz question to be asked isequal to or greater than a standard accuracy rate and when the answerdata is the same as correction data indicating a correct answer of thequiz question to be asked. That is, the answer data is converted so thata bit string after conversion will be the shortest when the answer dataindicates a correct answer.

Subsequently, processor 150 determines whether the collection processcompletion flag FL is 1 (completed) (SD8). In a case in which a resultof the determination is negative, the process returns to Step SD8. Inother words, processor 150 waits for a process of collecting answersreceived at other members to be completed. Processor 150 then, to everyother member, transmits its own answer data and collected pieces ofanswer data (SD9). Every piece of answer data has been encoded. It is tobe noted that the present embodiment may be modified so thattransmission of answer data is omitted in a case in which thedestination of the answer data is a member from which the answer datawas collected.

Subsequently, processor 150 determines whether, based on the answerreceived at this game terminal and on correct answer data included inthe quiz data set for performing a quiz using the target quiz question,the answer is correct (SD10). In a case in which a result of thedetermination is positive, processor 150 refers to the encoding-decodingdictionary of the target quiz question, to decode each collected pieceof answer data (SD11). This decoding is reverse-conversion (i.e.,decoding) of encoding (conversion) in Step SD7 and Step SF4 (describedlater).

Processor 150 then performs a correct answer process that is the same asthat of Step SB7 (SD12), except that in this correct answer process,processor 150 uses display unit 120 to display on screen 121 not onlythe answer received by this game terminal, but also answers received byother members. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of an image displayed onscreen 121 in this process.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed onscreen 121 of game terminal 10. This example illustrates a case in whichthe determined question style is of the type-in style. As it is clearwhen compared with FIG. 13, the answers of players who are using themember terminals except for this game terminal are displayed in an areain the left portion of the figure in screen 121 in FIG. 15. Theseanswers are displayed in a manner in which it shows which answer is theanswer of which player.

On the other hand, in a case in which a result of the determination inStep SD10 is negative, processor 150 refers to the encoding-decodingdictionary of the target quiz question, to decode each collected pieceof answer data (SD13), and performs an incorrect answer process that isthe same as Step SB5 (SD14). However, in this incorrect answer process,processor 150 uses display unit 120 to display in screen 121 not onlythe answer received by this game terminal but also the answers receivedby other members. These answers are displayed in a manner showing whichanswer is the answer of which player.

On the other hand, in a case in which the quiz process was terminated bya result of the determination in Step SD6B2 turning positive, i.e., thequiz process was terminated by the elapsed time exceeding the timelimit, processor 150 first determines whether the collection processcompletion flag FL is 1 (completed) (SD15). In a case in which a resultof the determination is negative, the process returns to Step SD15. Inother words, processor 150 waits until a process of collecting answersreceived by the other members is completed. Subsequently, processor 150determines whether the number of collected answers (answer data) is 0(SD16). A result of this determination turns affirmative only in a casein which no answer was received by any of the members.

In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SD16 isnegative, processor 150 transmits, to every other member, its own answerdata and the collected answer data (SD17). This process is the same asthe process in Step SD9. The process then advances to Step SD13. On theother hand, in a case in which a result of the determination in StepSD16 is affirmative, the process advances to Step SD14. That is, in acase in which an answer was not received at any of the members,transmission of answer data (S17) and decoding of answer data (S13) areskipped.

Processor 150, having finished a correct answer process or an incorrectanswer process, determines whether the next quiz question can be given(SD17), and in a case in which a result of the determination ispositive, the process returns to Step SD5. That is, until a result ofthe determination in Step SB17 turns negative, the process from StepsSD5 to SD17 (and the answer collection process (SE)) is repeated. On theother hand, in a case in which a result of the determination in Step SB8is positive, processor 150 performs a termination process of terminatingthe parent online game process (SD18), to end the parent online gameprocess. A multiple-player online game ends before the terminationprocess at the parent terminal.

In this termination process, processor 150 uses display unit 120 todisplay a result of the play on screen 121 and transmits, to serverdevice 40, play result data representing a result of the play of aplayer who is using this game terminal with respect to a multiple-playeronline game, which has ended.

In generating this play result data, processor 150 generates pieces ofquiz result data for each of quiz questions included in themultiple-player online game, which has ended. From among these pieces ofquiz result data, a piece of quiz result data indicating that the answerwas correct is always a piece of quiz result data for a quiz questionfor which a result of determination in Step SD10 became positive.

2-5. Child Online Game Process

FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrams each illustrating a part of a flowchart ofa child online game process performed at game terminal 10. In the childonline game process, processor 150 of a child terminal first obtains,from a parent terminal of the same group, the content of amultiple-player online game and the encoding-decoding dictionary (SF1).Specifically, pieces of quiz question ID data of the regulated number ofcandidate questions selected at the member parent terminal, datarepresenting the order of asking these candidate questions, andencoding-decoding dictionary data representing the encoding-decodingdictionary of these candidate questions are received from the parentterminal.

Subsequently, processor 150 identifies a target quiz question which is aquiz question to be given in the next quiz process (SF2). Amultiple-player online game starts at a child terminal before Step SF2.Processor 150 then performs a quiz process (SF3). The quiz process inStep SF3 is the same as the quiz process in Step SB4. In Step SF3, animage that is the same as the image shown in FIG. 13 is displayed onscreen 121. In the quiz process in Step SF3, processor 150 terminatesthe quiz process in a case in which a result of the determination in aprocess (SF3B1) corresponding to Step SB4B1 or a result of thedetermination in a process (SF3B2) corresponding to Step SB4B2 becomesaffirmative, to perform the next process.

In a case of terminating the quiz process by receiving an answer,processor 150 refers to the encoding-decoding dictionary of the targetquiz question, to encode answer data representing the answer (SD4).Subsequently, processor 150 transmits, to the member parent terminal,the encoded answer data of this game terminal (SD5). Processor 150 thendetermines whether it has received answer data from the member parentterminal (SF6), and in a case in which a result of the determination isnegative, processor 150 determines whether the length of time that haselapsed from the start of the receiving process in Step SF3B hassufficiently exceeded the time limit (SF7). In a case in which a resultof this determination is negative, the process returns to Step SF6.

Processor 150, in a case in which a result of the determination in StepSF6 turns affirmative by receiving answer data from the member parentterminal, refers to the encoding-decoding dictionary of the target quizquestion, to decode every received answer data (SF8). Processor 150 thendetermines whether its own answer is correct based on its own answerdata and correct answer data contained in the quiz data set forperforming a quiz using the target quiz question (SF9). On the otherhand, in a case in which a result of the determination in Step SF7 turnspositive by the elapsed time having sufficiently exceeded the timelimit, the process advances to Step SF9.

In a case in which a result of the determination in Step SF9 turnspositive, processor 150 performs a correct answer process that is thesame as Step SD12 in FIG. 12 (SF10). On the other hand, in a case inwhich a result of the determination in Step SF9 turns negative,processor 150 performs an incorrect answer process that is the same asStep SD14 in FIG. 12 (SF11). Meanwhile, in the case of terminating thequiz process by the elapsed time exceeding the time limit, processor 150performs the same process as Steps SF6 to SF8 (SF12 to SF14). When thisprocess is completed, the routine advances to Step SF11.

Processor 150, having completed the correct answer process or theincorrect answer process, determines whether the next quiz question canbe given (SF15), and in a case in which a result of the determination isaffirmative, the process returns to Step SF2. In other words, theprocess from Steps SF2 to SF15 is repeated until a result of thedetermination in Step SF15 becomes negative. On the other hand, in acase in which a result of the determination in Step SF15 is affirmative,processor 150 performs the same termination process (SF16) as theabove-described terminal process (SD18), to terminate the child onlinegame process. In the termination process of Step SF16, from among piecesof quiz result data included in the multiple-player online game, whichhas ended, a piece of quiz result data indicating that an answer wascorrect is always a piece of quiz result data for a quiz for which aresult of the determination in Step SF9 became positive.

It is to be noted that the multiple-player online game ends at a childterminal before the termination process.

3. Effects

In the following, description will be given of the effects that can beattained by the present embodiment. It is to be noted that, if any ofthe effects that will be described in the following is not necessary, anelement other than an element for bringing about a necessary result maybe removed from game system 1.

In the present embodiment, game terminal 10 has processor 150, andprocessor 150 performs a processing, in a quiz, of asking a player aquiz question, receiving an answer for the quiz question, and informingthe result of the quiz after the quiz is completed (SD6, SD10, SD12,SD14, SF3, SF9, SF10, SF11), a process of converting answer datarepresenting the received answer in such a manner that a bit string ofthe answer data will be the shortest after the conversion when theanswer is correct (SD7, SF4), transmitting to another game terminal 10the converted answer data (SD9, SF5), and a process of receiving answerdata from another game terminal 10, and a process of reverse-convertingthe received answer data (SD11, SD13, SF8, SF14).

Therefore, in game system 1, the size of transmitted and receivedcorrect answer data when a correct answer is received will be minimal(the shortest bit string), from among pieces of correct answer datatransmitted and received among members so that answers of each playerare shared among members. Because, in a quiz game, each player answers aquiz question, with the hope of determining the correct answer, it ispossible, according to the present invention, to minimize the size ofdata transmitted and received among members while enabling the sharingof answers of each player among members in a multiple-playerparticipation type online game in which a quiz question is asked in amanner in which a player is requested to input a character string as ananswer.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, conversion andreverse-conversion of answer data are carried out by encoding anddecoding by using an encoding-decoding dictionary. That is, according tothe present embodiment, conversion and reverse-conversion of answer datacan be performed by a simple process.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, game system 1 hasserver device 40, and server device 40 has processor 410 and serverstorage device 430. Server storage device 430 stores therein accuracyrate calculation mandatory data that is mandatory for accuracy ratecalculation of a quiz question. Processor 410 updates accuracy ratecalculation mandatory data stored in server storage device 430 based ona result of a quiz at each of plural game terminals 10. Processor 150 ofgame terminal 10 converts answer data representing the received answerin such a manner that the converted bit will be the shortest when theanswer is correct, in a case in which an accuracy rate of a quizquestion calculated using the updated accuracy rate calculationmandatory data is equal to or greater than a standard accuracy rate. Inshort, the conversion and reverse-conversion are performed for a quizquestion having an accuracy rate that is equal to or exceeds the certainvalue. Therefore, the amount of answer data transmitted and receivedamong members can be reliably reduced.

In the present embodiment, game terminal 10 has processor 150 andterminal storage device 160, and there are stored in terminal storagedevice 160, for each quiz question, keyword group data representing akeyword group including plural keywords, quiz question data representingthe quiz question, correct answer data representing a correct answer ofthe quiz question, and genre data indicating a genre of the quizquestion. Processor 150, by using computer program P1 stored in terminalstorage device 160, performs a process (SB4B, SD6B) of receiving ananswer from a player in each quiz, a process (SB6, SD10) of determiningwhether an answer received in each quiz is correct by using correctanswer data representing a correct answer of a quiz question given inthe quiz, a process (SC3) of dynamically specifying one search keyword,a process (SC5) of selecting plural quiz questions having associationwith one another by selecting plural quiz questions for each of whichkeyword group data representing a keyword group that includes the searchkeyword is stored in terminal storage device 160, and a process (SB4A,SD6A) of giving the selected plural quiz questions in one quiz game, byusing quiz question data representing each quiz question.

Thus, at game terminal 10, one search keyword is dynamically specifiedin each quiz game, and plural quiz questions that are associated by thespecified search keyword are given to a player. Therefore, according togame terminal 10, the associations among plural quiz questions that aregiven to a player can be used as a game element, so that thegame-worthiness of a quiz game can be increased.

Furthermore, at game terminal 10, because neither quiz question data orcorrect answer data is concurrently used as keyword group data, thefreedom in data format of quiz question data or correct answer data doesnot have to be reduced. For example, data representing an image can bequiz question data.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, there are plural types ofkeyword groups corresponding to each quiz question, and the plural typesof keyword groups each contains a keyword that is related to a quizelement that is different from group to group. Processor 150 of gameterminal 10 uses computer program P1 stored in terminal storage device160, to perform a process (SC2) of selecting one of the plural types.Also, quiz questions selected in a process (SC5) of selecting pluralquiz questions are limited to a quiz question that includes thespecified search keyword and to a quiz question for which keyword groupdata representing the selected type of keyword group is stored interminal storage device 160. Therefore, by use of game terminal 10, aquestion as to which quiz element is focused on in associating theplural quiz questions can also be a game element, and thegame-worthiness of a quiz game can be further enhanced.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, there is stored in terminalstorage device 160, for each quiz question, genre data indicating agenre of a quiz question separately from keyword group data, andprocessor 150 of game terminal 10 performs a process (SB2, SD2) ofspecifying one genre, a process (SB2, SD2) of selecting plural quizquestions for which genre data representing the identified genre isstored in terminal storage device 160, and a process (SB4A, SD6A) ofgiving a player the selected plural quiz questions in one quiz game, byusing quiz question data representing each quiz question. Therefore,according to game terminal 10, in each quiz game, plural quiz questionsthat are associated with one another can be given to a player, theassociation relating to something other than a genre, and moreover, theplural quiz questions that are selected from the specified one genre canbe selected.

4. Modifications

The above embodiment may be modified as described in the following.

4-1. Modification for Encoding-Decoding Dictionary 4-1-1. Modification 1

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the encoding-decoding dictionarymay be configured such that, for each quiz question, only the first bitof an encoded bit string corresponding to answer data (answer characterstring) which is the same as the correct answer data (correct answer)has the particular value (“1” in the figure) from among the first bit ofbit strings of all pieces of encoded data of encoding-decodingdictionary. In a case in which the encoding-decoding dictionary is thusconfigured, the encoding-decoding dictionary may be configured suchthat, from among encoded bit strings contained in each encoding-decodingdictionary data, an encoded bit string that is different from an encodedbit string corresponding to a to-be-encoded data which is the same asthe correct answer data is the shortest, as shown in FIG. 19.

By configuring the encoding-decoding dictionary as shown in FIG. 18 orFIG. 19, it is possible to provide a game system in which only the firstbit of encoded answer data has to be transmitted in a case in whichanswer data to be exchanged among members is correct answer data. FIG.20 illustrates a part of a flowchart of the parent online game processperformed by a parent terminal in this mode; and FIG. 21 shows a part ofa flowchart of the child online game process performed by a childterminal in this mode. Those parts that are not illustrated in FIG. 20or 21 are the same as those in FIGS. 12 and 17.

In this mode, only the first bit of encoded answer data has to bereferred to in order to determine whether an answer is correct (Step SG1in FIG. 20, Step SH1 in FIG. 21). Furthermore, in this mode, in a casein which answer data representing an answer received by a child terminalis correct answer data, the child terminal transmits, to the memberparent terminal, only the first one bit of encoded answer data insteadof transmitting the encoded answer data itself (Step SH2 in FIG. 21),and correct answer data can be obtained at the parent terminal bydecoding the one bit (Step SG3 in FIG. 20 and Step SG4 in FIG. 20). Thesame can be said of answer data representing an answer received at aparent terminal (Step SG2 in FIG. 20, Step SH3 in FIG. 21, Step SH4 inFIG. 21).

Thus, a method of converting answer data in a manner in which the bitstring of the answer data will be the shortest after the conversion whenthe answer data indicates a correct answer is not limited to a methodaccording to the above-described embodiment. For example, as describedabove, a game terminal may extract a portion that is included in theencoded bit string of the answer data indicating a correct answer andthat is not included in another encoded bit string, so that the portionextracted by the extractor is treated as the converted answer data. Inthis example, an encoding-decoding dictionary does not have to bedynamically reconfigured, which is an advantage of this example.

4-1-2. Modification 2

The encoding-decoding dictionary of a quiz question may be configured,for example, by including, in quiz result data contained in play resultdata transmitted from game terminal 10 to server device 40, answer datarepresenting an answer received at game terminal 10 for a quiz questionhaving the quiz question ID within the set and by, at server device 40,associating short encoded data with to-be-encoded data that is the sameas answer data representing an answer that has a high frequency of beinginput and associating long encoded data with to-be-encoded data that isthe same as answer data representing an answer that has a low frequencyof being input. In short, the encoding-decoding dictionary of a quizquestion may be reconfigured so that the length of encoded data will bea length depending on the input frequency of an answer to this quizquestion. The encoding-decoding dictionary of a quiz question may thusbe configured in a case in which the accuracy rate of the quiz questionis less than the standard accuracy rate, or regardless of the accuracyrate of the quiz question.

4-1-3. Modification 3

For example, a game system may be one in which there is only one quizquestion that can be asked. Also, for example, the conversion andreverse-conversion of answer data may be performed without using theencoding-decoding dictionary. In yet another example, it may beconfigured in such a way that each game terminal 10 stores anencoding-decoding dictionary for all quiz questions. In this case, datato be delivered from server device 40 to each game terminal 10 is not anencoding-decoding dictionary but an accuracy rate of a quiz question.Furthermore, it may be configured in such a manner that each gameterminal 10 stores the accuracy rate calculation mandatory data tocalculate an accuracy rate of a quiz question at each game terminal 10.

4-2. Modifications for Association among Plural Quiz Questions

4-2-1. Modification 4

For example, for a quiz question for which the number of times the quizquestion is asked exceeds a certain number, the accuracy rate that iscalculated when the number of times the quiz question is a certainnumber may be maintained. In this case, by setting the certain number asappropriate, a situation is prevented from occurring in which theaccuracy rate of the quiz question increases by the same playerrepeatedly answering the same quiz question.

4-2-2. Modification 5

For example, in a case in which some or all of the pieces of quizquestion data is data representing a character string, the some or allof the pieces of the quiz question may be used as keyword group data. Inshort, quiz question data may concurrently serve as a quiz-questionrelated keyword group data. Furthermore, the above some or all of thepieces of quiz question data may be limited to data representing acharacter string that is displayed on screen 121. Furthermore, the samemodifications as these modifications may be made to various types ofkeyword group data.

4-3. Modifications for Prohibiting the Asking of Inadequate Questions tobe Asked

4-3-1. Modification 6

For example, server device 40 may transmit each of plural game terminals10 data instructing deletion of quiz question data of a quiz questionfor which the accuracy rate does not fall within an adequate range, sothat each of plural game terminals 10 can delete quiz question data inaccordance with the data from server device 40. Theterminal-side-do-not-ask list is not necessary in this case.

Furthermore, for example, quiz question data of a quiz question whichgame terminal 10 is caused to ask may be transmitted from server device40 to game terminal 10 for each quiz question. In this case, it may befurther modified so that server device 40 does not transmit quizquestion data of a quiz question for which the accuracy rate does notfall within the adequate range.

4-3-2. Modification 7

For example, an adequate range can be determined for each quiz questionor may be determined as having the same range for all the questions.Also, for example, the number of quiz questions asked in one quiz gamemay be one. Furthermore, for example, a quiz data set does not have tobe stored in server-side quiz table QT2. For example, the updating of aquiz data set at each game terminal 10 may be performed by a human goingto a place at which each game terminal 10 is located.

4-4. Other Modifications

For example, the content of the quiz game may be dynamically controlled.Specifically, a parent terminal may select, during a multiple-playeronline game and for every quiz process, a target quiz question from theregulated number of candidate questions, and notifies a result of thisselection to every child terminal which is a member, and every membergives a player the target quiz question in a subsequent quiz process inaccordance with the notification. If this mode is adopted, it ispossible to perform control such that, for example, a quiz questionhaving relatively low difficulty level or having relatively highaccuracy rate is determined to be a quiz question for the final quiz ina case in which all players participating in a multiple-player onlinegame have given incorrect answers for all the questions so far and arecoming up to the final quiz, if the regulated number is determined to besufficiently large. According to this control, there will be a lowerprobability of impairing game-worthiness. Furthermore, the probabilityis reduced of the occurrence of situations in which the playersatisfaction is extremely low (no correct answer).

For example, the game system may have a configuration in whichfreely-selected game terminals do not have a parent-child(master-client) relationship, but communicate with one another on anequal basis. In this case, the communication address of each member isshared by all the members. Furthermore, for example, a home-use gameconsole may be used as game terminal 10. In this case, game terminal 10is placed in households. Also, for example, a portable type game devicemay be used as game terminal 10. In this case, game terminal 10 iscarried by a player.

In the above embodiment, description was given of a case in whichcomputer program P1 is executed by processor 150 of game terminal 10,but by executing the computer program by a general-use computer, theprocessor of the computer may be caused to execute the process of eachof the above-described embodiments.

Additionally, in the above embodiment, description was given of a casein which computer program P1 is stored in non-volatile area RT2 ofterminal storage device 160 in server device 40, but the computerprogram may be recorded, as data loadable onto a memory of a computer,on a data carrier such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, aCD-ROM, or any other computer-readable recording medium and bedistributed. The data carrier may be a data connection, such as fortransmitting signals representing computer program P1 via a telephoneline or a wireless connection. For example, computer program P1 may bedownloaded through communication interface 180 by connecting to theInternet 2.

1. A game terminal for enabling a player to play a quiz game including aquiz, the game terminal comprising: a quiz processor that, in the quiz,asks the player a quiz question, that receives an answer for the quizquestion, and that informs a result of the quiz after the quiz iscompleted; a converter that converts answer data representing the answerin such a manner that a bit string of the answer data will be theshortest after the conversion when the answer is correct; a transmitterthat transmits to another game terminal the answer data converted by theconverter; a receiver that receives the answer data from another gameterminal; and a reverse-converter that reverse-converts the answer datareceived by the receiver.
 2. A game terminal according to claim 1, theconverter comprising: an encoding-decoding dictionary storage devicethat stores an encoding-decoding dictionary in which a to-be-encoded bitstring and an encoded bit string are stored in a correlated manner foreach of plural pieces of data that are different from one another; andan encoder that encodes the answer data by using the encoding-decodingdictionary stored in the encoding-decoding dictionary storage device,wherein the answer data encoded by the encoder is treated as the answerdata converted by the converter.
 3. A game terminal according to claim1, the converter comprising: an encoding-decoding dictionary storagedevice that stores an encoding-decoding dictionary in which ato-be-encoded bit string and an encoded bit string are stored in acorrelated manner for each of plural pieces of data that are differentfrom one another; an encoder that encodes the answer data by using theencoding-decoding dictionary stored in the encoding-decoding dictionarystorage device; and an extractor that extracts a portion that isincluded in the bit string of the answer data encoded by the encoder andthat is not included in another encoded bit string; wherein the portionextracted by the extractor is treated as the answer data converted bythe converter.
 4. A game system including plural game terminals, eachfor enabling a player to play a quiz game including a quiz, each of theplural game terminals comprising: a quiz processor that, in the quiz,asks the player a quiz question, that receives an answer for the quizquestion, and that informs a result of the quiz after the quiz iscompleted; a converter that converts answer data showing the answer insuch a manner that a bit string of the answer data will be the shortestafter the conversion when the answer is correct; a transmitter thattransmits to another game terminal the answer data converted by theconverter; a receiver that receives the answer data from another gameterminal; and a reverse-converter that reverse-converts the answer datareceived by the receiver.
 5. A game system according to claim 4, furthercomprising a server device for communicating with each of the pluralgame terminals, the server device comprising: a calculation mandatorydata storage device that stores, for each quiz question, data ofparameters mandatory for accuracy rate calculation as calculationmandatory data; and a calculation mandatory data updater that updates,based on the result of the quiz, the calculation mandatory data storedin the calculation mandatory data storage device, wherein the converterconverts answer data showing the answer in such a manner that a bitstring of the answer data after the conversion will be the shortest whenthe answer is correct, the conversion being performed in a case in whichan accuracy rate of a quiz question calculated based on the calculationmandatory data stored in the calculation mandatory data storage deviceis equal to or greater than a standard accuracy rate.
 6. A computerprogram for running on a computer that enables a player to play a quizgame including a quiz, the computer program, when run on the computer,at least including computer-readable instructions for performing thesteps of: processing a game, the processing including asking the playera quiz question, receiving an answer for the quiz question, andinforming a result of the quiz after the quiz is completed; convertinganswer data showing the answer in such a manner that a bit string of theanswer data will be the shortest after the conversion when the answer iscorrect; transmitting to another game terminal the answer data convertedin the converting step; receiving the answer data from another gameterminal; and reverse-converting the answer data received in thereceiving step.
 7. A computer-readable recording medium that stores acomputer program for running on a computer that enables a player to playa quiz game including a quiz, the program, when run on the computer, atleast including computer readable instructions for performing the stepsof: processing a game, the processing including asking the player a quizquestion, receiving an answer for the quiz question, and informing aresult of the quiz after the quiz is completed; converting answer datashowing the answer in such a manner that a bit string of the answer datawill be the shortest after the conversion when the answer is correct;transmitting to another game terminal the answer data converted in theconverting step; receiving the answer data from another game terminal;and reverse-converting the answer data received in the receiving step.